The Star News

It is hard to believe that 2023 is quickly coming to a close! We wish our RCPS family a restful winter break and we look forward to everyone's return in 2024 for a wonderful second half of the school year.

We encourage our families to continue to be engaged in your student's education. Join your school's PTA/PTSA, follow RCPS on social media, visit our website at rcps.info, and scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for important upcoming dates! Remember, your school is also a great source of information, so be sure to follow it on social media, too. A reminder that 52 Weeks of Reading continues during Winter Break, with Dr. White's annual Winter Storytime on Wednesday, December 20 at 7 p.m.

Thank you for your continued support of Roanoke City Public Schools. As always, we welcome your thoughts, questions, or suggestions by emailing info@rcps.info.

RCPS Family,

Happy Holidays! This time of year is always a wonderful time to reflect on all for which we are thankful. I want to thank you for your continued partnership and provide an update before we leave for Winter Break. By moving forward, staying focused, and working together, I know our students will continue to have a great year.

Your continued partnership and reinforcement of expectations for appropriate student behavior in school is essential. Research shows that parent engagement is closely linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement, and enhanced social skills. Parent engagement also makes it more likely that children and adolescents will avoid unhealthy behaviors. With your partnership, we can empower our students to dream, excel, and meet their full potential.

As you will remember, we began the school year with a reset. We implemented our new four-point discipline plan as part of our standards and expectations for student behavior. Our goal is for our students to continue to feel safe, supported, engaged, and connected. To that end, we will also continue to periodically conduct random security screenings without advance notice, as we have previously stated.

Please continue to talk with your students about what it means to be respectful and responsible, and the importance of saying something if they see or hear something that may be a safety concern. Please check your student’s bookbag every day to make sure they are not bringing anything inappropriate to school and monitor their social media, so you know what they are saying online. If you need help learning how to check their social media accounts and cell phones, visit our Resources for Families webpage.

I also want to reinforce the importance of attending school every day and making sure our students are well-rested and prepared to learn. Attendance matters, and it is important that students attend school every day, as long as they are not sick. For additional guidance on when to keep your child home, visit our Student Health webpage.

If your student needs additional support, which may include instructional or mental health supports, please contact their teacher and/or school counselor. Additionally, Hazel, which launched in November, provides virtual counseling and ultimately virtual pediatric healthcare at no cost to our students.

I hope you will join me for my annual Winter Storytime on Wednesday, December 20th at 7 p.m. You can find more information on how to tune in by visiting our website. My hope is that this storytime will be the start of many books you and your family will enjoy together over Winter Break. Roanoke City Public Libraries also has some wonderful storytimes scheduled over the Winter Break. Be sure to click here and mark your calendar for these free events!

I want to thank you for all you do to support Roanoke City Public Schools. We could not do this work without you. I also want to thank our teachers, our administrators, and our staff for working hard to meet the needs of our students and providing high-quality instruction. Together, I know we will continue to move forward, stay focused, and work together throughout 2024. We Are One!

Sincerely,

Dr. Verletta White
Superintendent

It’s time again for Breakfast with Santa, hosted by the STAR Council and Roanoke City Public Schools on Saturday, December 16th from 9 to 11 a.m. at William Fleming High School. This annual event raises money for RCPS’ Help the Homeless Fund and supports students who are faced with housing security.

You will receive a hot breakfast provided by our friends at SFE LLC, meet Santa and friends, enjoy storytimes with Santa, participate in crafts, and see special performances by the cast of Frozen Jr. and Southwest Virginia Ballet's cast of The Nutcracker.

Visit our website to learn more and buy tickets!

Thank you to our Gold Sponsors for their generous support: SFE LLC, Antsey Hodge Advertising Group, KNA Contracting, Magic City Auto Group, Bank of the James, Firehouse Skate 'N Play, Karisma Salon, and Branch Group.

Grab your cocoa, get comfy in your favorite pajamas, snuggle in, and join Dr. White and her furry friends for her annual Winter Storytime! Winter Storytime premieres Wednesday, December 20th at 7 p.m.

Dr. White's storytime will be livestreamed on the RCPS website, the RCPS Facebook page, and the RCPS YouTube channel.

Schools and offices will be closed Thursday, December 21, 2023 through Wednesday, January 3, 2024 for Winter Break. Students and staff will return on Thursday, January 4.

Schools are offices will be closed Monday, January 15th for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Schools will dismiss two hours early on Friday, January 19th for students.

Our students and staff have been working hard and having fun! This is just a glimpse at some of the exciting things happening in our schools.

One of the ways we can support our children’s well-being is by establishing and building trust with them. This creates the ability to have open conversations from an early age. This is invaluable when difficulties arise because we’ve already established trust and and can help them navigate what they are going through.

Let’s be honest: talking to children about mental health is not always easy. It can be uncomfortable, and sometimes our children may be reluctant or have trouble finding ways to express how they are feeling. So getting comfortable with just having conversations is the first step!

How can you start conversations that build trust? Below are a few tips to help you get started:

• Make it a daily habit to check in with your child. Find a time when you're usually together, like car rides, walks, bedtime, or meals. Show them how to talk by sharing your day and feelings. Children learn by watching us. This also helps them to see that emotions are normal.
• Ask open questions about all sorts of topics. Your goal is for them to share with you. Stay calm, pay attention, and help them feel safe by listening carefully and understanding their feelings.
• When it's time to talk about tough topics, choose a time when everyone is calm. Ask if they're ready to talk, and if not, set a time to talk later.

Click here for sample conversation starters!

In RCPS, we are committed to supporting our students' mental health. We are excited that we launched a new partnership with Hazel Health on November 6. With Hazel, students can meet virtually with a licensed therapist for a therapy appointment. Services are available at school and at home, at no cost to families. Visit our website to learn more!

Have a question about Mindfulness?

Laurie Seidel, Coordinator of Mindfulness Education
P: (540) 853-1726 | E: lseidel@rcps.info

Visit our website!

Virtual Parent/Guardian University

RCPS' goal is to partner with families and the community to create strong, school-based family engagement programming and meaningful relationships that support student success, opportunities, and growth. As part of this goal, RCPS has launched a virtual Parent & Guardian University to provide resources to help families be engaged with their student's education.

When the Booker T. Washington Community Empowerment & Education Center opens in 2025, RCPS will hold in-person Parent & Guardian University classes.

Visit our Parent/Guardian University webpage to watch the first video of this school year, about becoming involved with your student's education.

Schedule a check-in with your student's teachers

Participating in a Parent/Teacher Conference is one way you can be engaged with your student's education and stay up to date on how they are doing academically. Be sure to sign up for a parent/teacher conference in February, or contact your student's teachers if you have any questions or concerns that you want to discuss with them

Have a question about PTA or Family & Community Engagement?

Corey Allder, Director of Community Engagement

P: (540) 853-1359 | E: callder@rcps.info

Visit our Website!

• If you aren’t receiving robocalls, your phone number may be deactivated or incorrect in the RCPS mass notification system. Please contact your child’s school to ensure you continue receiving these important messages. In addition, if you have moved, make sure to provide your new address to the school as well.
  

• Need help resolving an issue that impacts student learning, the school-work environment, or understanding how RCPS works and where to go for assistance? The RCPS Constituent Services Office may be able to help! Click here for more information.

• Are you looking for a job that allows you to be on the same schedule as your child? Apply to become an Instructional Assistant, School Security Officer, Bus Driver, Bus Aide, or Food Service Worker! Other part-time and full-time positions are also available. Visit our website to learn more.

• Your child's school is a great source of information. They always welcome you to contact them directly with questions. Visit rcps.info/schools for school contact information.
• Missed an edition of The Star News? Access previous issues here!

Roanoke City Public Schools serves approximately 14,000 students in grades pre-K through 12. RCPS provides an inclusive and equitable, student-centered culture that empowers lifelong learning. Through meaningful, relevant, and engaging learning opportunities, RCPS will empower all students to dream, excel, and meet their full potential to benefit our city and its citizens.